Welcome to The Inside Scoop, our electronic newsletter. Please enjoy this issue and share your feedback by email. We always look forward to hearing from you. This is the May 2026 edition of The Inside Scoop. See below for information about courses, clubs and special events.
Spring 2026 Semester Recap
Another fabulous semester in the books!
Thanks to all our members, instructors, volunteers and board members for contributing to an exciting and successful Spring 2026 semester! With your expertise and assistance, we were able to offer some hybrid classes, record some classes (now available for asynchronous viewing), offer virtual class viewing in-person at GMU, meet at off-site locations, and more. We have received much positive feedback this semester, and always welcome your comments and ideas.
Don’t forget that thirteen courses are being recorded this term and will be available for registered participants to view online until July 31. Check out the list of recorded courses here.
Architect Gus Ardura taught a new course for us – Architecture Appreciation. The class offered an overview of the field and how it addresses our social concerns. The last two sessions met at the new FUSE building, adjacent to Van Metre Hall.
On May 6, Demystifying Islam Instructor Imam Usama Rehman led a class visit to Ahmadiyya Mosque in Chantilly.
Dr. Robert Albro’s course – China’s “Belt and Road” Expands: the US, Latin America, and the New Cold War? examined China’s expanding influence in Latin America, and it’s broader geopolitical implications. We are fortunate that Dr. Albro will be teaching for Encore Learning again this Fall.
Thank you to all our volunteer instructors who share their time, knowledge and expertise with our members. We are truly grateful!
Summer Learning Opportunities
Seeking ways to stay mentally engaged this summer? We invite you to explore our selection of pre-recorded asynchronous courses.
This past semester we recorded a number of our courses and are offering Encore Learning members the opportunity to view these recordings over the summer. The course content was pre-recorded at class sessions held in March to May 2026 and there will be no live interaction.
Register for your spot in the asynchronous version of the course by June 30, using the links below, and you will have access to the full course recordings and class materials until July 31, 2026. What a perfect activity for those sweltering summer days!
Lora Pollari-Welbes, Catherine McCormick and Mike Stutts were recently interviewed for the Aging Matters TV/YouTube program. Cheryl Beversdorf is the producer and host of Aging Matters – radio and television programs featuring interviews with experts who talk about issues of interest to older adults and their families.
Our sincere gratitude goes out to everyone who voted in our recent election and attended the Encore Learning Annual Meeting on May 21. The meeting commenced with President Marilyn Marton inviting members who had belonged to Encore Learning for more than ten years to raise their hands, and dozens of hands were raised. We announced our Officers and Board Members, had an organizational update, heard from several Committee Chairs, received a report from our Treasurer and shared highlights from the past year. We welcomed two new members to the Board of Directors, Iolaire McFadden and Barbara Filip, co-chairs of our IT Committee.
We also enjoyed entertainment by the Encore Learning Improvisers (pictured below) and the Harmony Heritage Singers (pictured above).
It was wonderful to see so many members in-person at the Central Library.
Congratulations to our 2026-2027 Board:
Marilyn Marton – President (term ending June 2028)
Mildred Patterson – Vice President (term ending June 2028)
Barry Ginsberg – Vice President (term ending June 2027)
Steve Shapiro – Treasurer (term ending June 2027)
Joan Carter – Secretary (term ending June 2027)
Susan Bornstein – Academic Programs Co-Chair
Deborah Spero – Academic Programs Co-Chair
John Metzler – Class Aides Co-Chair
Mike Stutts – Class Aides Co-Chair
David Briggs – Community Advisory Council Chair
Barbara Fillip – Information Technology Co-Chair
Iolaire McFadden – Information Technology Co-Chair
Lynn Ray – Membership Chair
Ann Kaupp – Publications Co-Chair
Bill Reilly – Publications Co-Chair
Louise Kenny – Special Events Chair
Jane Nagy – Volunteer Chair
Note: Committee Chairs serve one-year terms.
We wish to express our appreciation and bid farewell to outgoing Board member Richard Rubin, Information Technology Committee Chair. Thank you for your service on our Board!
Pictured below are Louise Kenny (left), Susan Bornstein (upper right), Lynn Ray (lower right).
Thank you to Tom Underwood for sharing pictures.
Special Events
May has been a busy month:
Monday, May 4, Rosenwald film screening at the Arlington Library. Over 100 people attended this documentary about Julius Rosenberg, CEO of Sears, Roebuck who invested in giving African American children in the early 1900’s an education by building over 5,000 Rosenwald schools throughout the South – including the original school in Arlington where the Langston school stands today, The filmmaker, Aviva Kempner attended as well as Saundra Green, longtime Arlington resident who grew up in Hall’s Hill and attended Langston Elementary School, originally a Rosenwald School.
Thursday, May 7, Tour of the Milken Center for Advancing the American Dream in the beautiful former Riggs Bank building.
Tuesday, May 12, Garden Tour at Hillwood Estate, Museum and Gardens featuring the spectacular gardens that captured the vision of Marjorie Merriweather Post when building the estate in the 1950s.
Monday, May 18, Encore Learning Presents a hybrid presentation by Jay Stanley of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), who discussed privacy, surveillance technology and how police departments and federal agencies are seeking to use technology. You can watch this presentation on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZBAtv0pMbWQ
Thursday, May 21, we had a “double feature”:
Our annual meeting in the morning at the central library. We had an organizational update, heard from several Committee Chairs, received a report from our Treasurer and shared highlights from the past year. We also enjoyed entertainment by the Encore Learning Improvisers and the Harmony Heritage Singers, an a cappella group featuring Encore Learning members.
A group of us attended the Nationals-Mets game that afternoon at Nat’s Stadium. Despite the cold and cloudy weather – fun was had by all. Photos courtesy Tom Kilfoyle.
There are three upcoming events in June. At this time all upcoming tours have waiting lists, but check the status of Special Events here.
Many of our tours have limited capacity so please do not sign up if it is unlikely that you will be able to attend. If, at the last minute, you cannot make it, please do let the Encore Learning office know. If a tour fills up, we will look into having an additional tour.
Thanks for all your support in attending our Encore Learning Presents presentations and in-person events and tours. Our committee enjoys uncovering interesting topics and “hidden gems” in our area and discovering limited-time exhibits.
— The Special Events Committee: Jan Burchard, Louise Kenny, Tom Kilfoyle, Nancy Kilpatrick, Tom Underwood. Photos of Rosenwald Film Screening and Milken Center courtesy of Tom Underwood.
Encore Learning Members Invited:
Improv Showcase & Celebration
Come enjoy an afternoon of laughter and creativity as students from the Encore Learning course “Never Too Old to Play Some More” take the stage for a lively improv performance!
Friday, May 29
12:00 PM (Noon)
Van Metre Hall, Room 308
This upbeat showcase features Encore Learning members who have been exploring the fun and creativity of improv. The class is eager to share what they’ve learned in a joyful performance.
Stay afterward for a casual celebration with the performers!
The event is free, and no tickets or reservations required. Encore Learning members are warmly invited.
Come support your fellow members and experience the delight of improv. You’re never too old to play and then play some more!
American Wagner Project Spring Recital
Sunday, May 31
3:00 PM
Katzen Arts Center, American University
You are invited to enjoy an afternoon devoted to some of the most promising emerging Wagnerian voices working today at the American Wagner Project Spring Recital.
This free program will feature extraordinary young talents Heather Hjelle (soprano), Matthew Sink (tenor) and Wei-Han Wu (piano).
Member volunteers represented Encore Learning at two community events in May. We hope you were able to stop by and visit our tables!
May 9 – Arlington HistoryFest 250 at Kenmore Middle School. The Arlington Historical Society organized this free, one-day festival commemorating the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution. Our booth offered an Arlington History Trivia Quiz contest which awarded a complimentary membership to a new member.
Thank you to Susan Bornstein, Natalie Hall, Richard Juhnke, Jane Nagy, Tibor Nagy, Ed Rader, Bill Reilly, Deborah Spero, sheri stroud, and Chuck Walters for braving the elements to share about Encore Learning.
May 20 – 55+ Fitness Day and Health Fair at Lubber Run Community Center. This free event celebrated National Senior Health and Fitness Day! Thank you to our volunteers: Jany Nagy and Jeanne LaBella for greeting prospective members.
Club News
Please email the Encore Learning office if you are interested in joining any of our clubs or would like more information. You may also visit our Clubs page on our website for details and a full list of our clubs.
Please note: Clubs are maintained by Encore Learning as a benefit to our members. If you’re not a member or have let your membership lapse, please go to our membership page for how to join or renew. Thank you!
Cinema Club
The Encore Learning Cinema Club meets monthly to see a current film, usually at Cinema Arts Theater in Fairfax. Recent movies have included Horseshoe, The Christophers, Calle Malaga, Oscar Nominated Live Shorts, and Blue Moon. We talk about the movie over lunch at a nearby restaurant, and the discussions are usually interesting and animated. The number of attendees range from 8 to about 15. Join us for a movie and a discussion over lunch nearby. Our next meeting dates are June 18 and July 16.
–Caroline Wooden and Dru Dowdy.
Global Lunch Club
The global lunch club met at A Modo Mio in Arlington on May 14 for delicious Italian cuisine and conversation. The club usually meets monthly to enjoy the area’s great international cuisine. However, due to summer travel, the club will likely not meet again until August. Suggestions welcome for future meetings. -Jan Rothstein, Coordinator
Nonfiction Book Club
The Encore Learning Nonfiction Book Club will meet next on July 13 in the Arlington central library (Bluemont Room). The meeting will start at 1:30 and last about an hour. We’ll be discussing The Sisterhood: The Secret History of Women at the CIA by Liza Mundy. “Every page is electric with revelations as Mundy vividly and perceptively portrays the remarkable women who covertly elevated this complicated, controversial, yet essential government agency.”—Booklist. Please come join us in what promises to be an interesting discussion about this “staggering well researched” (NY Times) book about the women at the CIA who fought to become operatives, transformed spycraft, and tracked down Osama bin Laden. If interested in joining the book club, let the office know and we’ll add you to the mailing list. –Ed Rader and Pat Chatten, co-coordinators.
Travel Club
The Travel Club met on May 15 where Craig Wulf tallked about his recent trip to the National Parks in Utah and Wyoming.
The June meeting will be on Friday the 19th on Zoom at the usual time of 3:30 PM. Charlie Hallahan will talk about his pre-covid trip with his wife Claire to Albania. Albania is a very scenic part of Europe; one of the more mountainous countries in Europe along with a long shoreline on the Adriatic Sea. There are still many of the WWII bunkers left over from the days of Hoxha when it was essentially the North Korea of Europe.
The Encore Learning Travel Club meets once a month, usually on the 3rd Friday of the month at 3:30 PM on Zoom. To become a member of the club and receive the club announcements, send an email to the office. We hope to see you virtually on Zoom! -Charlie Hallahan, co-coordinator. Photos courtesy of Charlie Hallahan.
University Life at GMU Mason Square is on a brief break through June 6. Summer events will start on June 8. Please click on the image to see what’s coming up this Summer. Maybe join up with some other Encore Learning members for some yoga or a sound bath?
Staff Corner
May brings our academic year to a close and also brought our members together. We had both the Rosenwald film screening and the Annual Meeting this month. It felt like old times to be back at Central Library. We are grateful for our ongoing partnership with Arlington Public Library.
With tables at both the HistoryFest 250 and the Health Fair this month, we shared information about Encore Learning with many more of our neighbors. It is surprising to find people who still don’t know about Encore Learning.
Encore Learning can celebrate a fantastic year of enriching classes, intriguing special events and fun clubs. Kudos to our volunteers who make this all possible. Thanks to them, Encore Learning is now 1,200 members strong!
Enjoy some relaxation or maybe some travels over the summer, check out our ongoing events and clubs. Be ready to browse our fall catalog in August.
Thank you for your ongoing support and enthusiasm for lifelong learning.
~ Lora
Lora Pollari-Welbes
Executive Director
Important Reminders and Save the Dates
The office will be closed Monday, May 25 for Memorial Day.
Fall Semester catalog will be mailed and online in early August.
Fall Course Preview – virtual on Thursday, September 3.
Fall Course Registration Opens Tuesday, September 8.
During April 2026, we welcomed the following new members: Zoe Danon, Eva Esber, David Fege, Ceresa Haney, Maja Lee, Dianne Modell, Mary Nokes and Shelli Ross. We look forward to having them become active participants in Encore Learning. Please introduce yourself to them if you meet them in a class, club or event.
Thank you to the following for referring friends who became members of Encore Learning! Louise Kenny, Lisa Morley, and Gail Raiman.
If you’d like to bring Encore Learning to your community (residential building or neighborhood) to share information about membership, please let us know.
Encore Learning is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Any donation is a charitable contribution deductible from income tax to the full extent permitted by law. Members, friends and organizations wishing to support Encore Learning may direct contributions to our General Fund to support our sustainability or to the Arthur W. Gosling Youth Scholarship Fund. If you wish to designate a charitable gift in someone’s honor or memory, please email us indicating how the gift should be recognized. If you would like to discuss tax benefits of charitable giving and charitable remainder trusts, please view our Donate page or contact the office.
We hope you enjoyed this edition of The Inside Scoop. If you would like to submit an article or share some photos of members participating in Encore Learning activities, please email us atinfo@encorelearning.net.
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